Clanking noises from rear-end

[CodeAlpha]

Hey all, I just purchased my first BMW. Picked up a 2001 M3 for a good price with extended certified warranty on it.

Anyways. If I'm on a hill coming to a stop and I push in the clutch... I hear this dud, dud, dud, dud sound coming from the back end. It does it less if I'm on a flat surface so I can tell that when the load is released some part of my drivetrain comes loose and alternates back and forth making the sounds I'm hearing. I took it to the dealer and they said it was normal like I figured they would. I'm gonna test drive another M3 soon but I wanted to ask in some forums if anyone else has this same sound. It's hard to explain but it also makes some clanking type noises if I tap the gas repeatedly while cruising down the road in gear (with a jerking type motion of the car). To me it sounds like a loose driveshaft or something loose in the differential. I've had several manual's in my short 27 years and none of them ever made these types of sounds. I'm a noob when it comes to that sort of stuff and to BMW's in general so any input would be greatly appreciated.

Cory

[snikwad]

was it a BMW dealer or one of the other guys, cause that does not sound in anyway NORMAL to me, the 03 i test drove was very quite and it had 3 other people in it, i cruised i gunned it and punched it eveything, didnt hear anything like that. so id go insist they find what the hell it is, i mean you paid for the warranty and that stuff has to be covered so dont accept that BS.

[EXtech]

There was a bulletin on a narrow range of BMW E36's for excessive wear in the differential. Yours may fall in that category. All bmw's inherently have a faint similar noise due to their design.. it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's because of lighter tollerances designed for a true performance car. However, some of the diff's had way too much tollerance and therefore created too much noise.

[Mr White G]

Could it be worn rear suspension bushes? Allowing for a small amount of play in the suspension?

[CodeAlpha]

Hey thanks for the input.

I took it back again to the dealer and argued with the lead tech guy. He told me all BMW's made the noise so we jumped in a used 330 and he wasnt able to replicate the noise I showed him in my M3. Anyways, the shop foreman and a technical adviser came and told me if there was something broken they would fix it and that the M3 just has a different setup that can make some noise on cars with some miles on them (mine having 35k). Another guy sent me this link that was pretty helpfull and put me at ease http://uucmotorwerks.com/ All kinds of good info and products on there. Anyways, for now I'm just gonna live with it unless something breaks, and I just have to press in the clutch alot slower when traveling at low speeds and going into neutral.